Thanks for the tips.
Because of reading too much this forum and aaac I ordered online already 3 pairs of Loake (CT and herringshoes), 2 Alfred Sargents, 1 C&J Tavistock and 1 Bally in the last 3 months. I would not go down for quality and should stop my impulse buying

As far as their clothes are concerned, Savile Row Co is certainly far away from being a high-end retailer. Go for any other Jermyn Street name and you'll find a better quality in shirts. So the odds are good that this applies to their shoes, too.

Haha. I thought I might be giving too much away by revealing past mistakes. I fear my shoe pedigree is definitely sub par.

I can honestly say that I already had a small collection of shoes prior to SF / AAAC. In the main, Church's, Cheaney & Loake were the order of the day. I had never heard of Edward Green or Lobb but I'm sure grateful to the membership for the enlightenment.

To answer your question, I have spent the last 18 months rebuilding my collection, which is still a work in progress.

Just going to say in defence of John White, yeah their stuff is kind of crappy but I got a pair of John white Chelseas on a daninite sole for about Â£60 new, wore them for three years, for two years I wore them almost every day, walked around a lot including in some really shitty weather they held up fine, and still look ok, if a little battered.

Just going to say in defence of John White, yeah their stuff is kind of crappy but I got a pair of John white Chelseas on a daninite sole for about Â£60 new, wore them for three years, for two years I wore them almost every day, walked around a lot including in some really shitty weather they held up fine, and still look ok, if a little battered.

Equally, I found this forum while looking for information on John White after buying a pair in 1999, wearing them close to 5 days a week for 10 years (re-soleing 3 or 4 times) and deciding they are my best shoes ever - still in great condition. I'm not a shoe connoisseur (bought them on sight in a dept store in Sydney) but feel it's time for something new and am desperately trying to avoid all the pointy designs - the John Whites were quite square and stumpy which appealed to me. I am drawn to Barkers, my father and grandfather swore by them, but gather I should be looking a Loake etc too. I don't want to buy online as I want them soon and do want to try on. Can anyone recommend a helpful and reasonably good value reseller of these and other quality shoes in Sydney?

Equally, I found this forum while looking for information on John White after buying a pair in 1999, wearing them close to 5 days a week for 10 years (re-soleing 3 or 4 times) and deciding they are my best shoes ever - still in great condition.

I'm not a shoe connoisseur (bought them on sight in a dept store in Sydney) but feel it's time for something new and am desperately trying to avoid all the pointy designs - the John Whites were quite square and stumpy which appealed to me.

I am drawn to Barkers, my father and grandfather swore by them, but gather I should be looking a Loake etc too. I don't want to buy online as I want them soon and do want to try on. Can anyone recommend a helpful and reasonably good value reseller of these and other quality shoes in Sydney?

You'll find nothing in Sydney worth buying I'm afraid unless you want to pay $470 for loake's or $900 for Church's, with only a few styles to choose from. Go try them on at Joseph's or DJ's, then buy them from www.pediwear.co.uk and save yourself half the cost. Shipping time is less than a week to Aus normally so you don't need to wait long.